It is by a lottery system that you shall distribute the land to your families. To a large [family] give a large portion; to a smaller one, give a smaller portion. Distribute the land to the paternal tribes, and each one shall have what the lottery system dictates.

stops Or, 'starting points,' literally, 'goings out' (Targum; Ibn Ezra; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah). Or, 'events,' 'these are the events along the way' (Radak, Sherashim; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah; cf. Joshua 2:23). Since most of the place names here occur nowhere else in the Bible, it appears that they were given by the Israelites to commemorate specific events (Abarbanel).

Dofkah Not mentioned in Exodus; see note on Exodus 17:1. This is possibly Serabith el-Khadim, an oasis south of the ridge that runs across the Sinai.

Alush Not mentioned in Exodus; see note on Exodus 17:1. Some say that this is where the manna began to fall; see note on Exodus 16:1 (Bereshith Rabbah 48:12; Sh'moth Rabbah 25:5). The Israelites therefore arrived there on 15 Iyyar, 2448 (April 24, 1313 b.c.e.). It was therefore in Alush that they were given the first Sabbath (Exodus 16:29; Yerushalmi, Betza 2:1, 9b).

Some sources translate Alush as 'powerful city' (Targum Yonathan). The Talmud notes that it was built by Sheshai, one of the giants of Hebron (Numbers, 13:22; Yoma 10a).

Chatzeroth 'Courtyard.' Numbers, 11:35. This is where Miriam was struck (Numbers, 12:16). Some say that it also was where Korach rebelled (Rashi on Deuteronomy 1:1; see Numbers 33:22). They arrived in Chatzeroth on 22 Sivan, 2449 (June 17, 1312 b.c.e.; Taanith 29a).

Rithmah This is Kadesh Barnea, the place from which the spies were sent; see note on Numbers 13:3 (Rashi; Midrash Aggadah; Baal HaTurim cf. Psalms 120:4). Some say that this was a place where many broom (rothem) trees grew (Targum Yonathan; cf. 1 Kings 19:4, Job 30:4). The Israelites arrived here on 29 Sivan, 2449 (June 14, 1312 b.c.e.; see note on Numbers 12:16).

Some say that they remained here for 19 years (Seder Olam 8, from Deuteronomy 1:46, according to Ramban on 20:1; Chizzkuni). See Numbers, 33:36. They were thus in Rithmah until 2468 (1293 b.c.e.).

Rimmon Peretz Or Rimmon Paretz (Septuagint). 'Spreading Pomegranate Tree,' or 'Heavy-fruited Pomegranate' (Targum Yonathan). They arrived here in 2468 (1293 b.c.e.); see note on Numbers 33:18. They were now heading south toward the Gulf of Aqaba (see Numbers 14:25, 33:35); circumscribing the Seir Mountains (Deuteronomy 2:1). The Israelites were therefore most probably traveling east of the mountains in the Negev. It may be possible to identify Rimmon Peretz with Mount Ramon in the Negev. Some say that they traveled through the Moab Desert (Sefer HaYashar, Sh'lach).

Livnah 'Bricks;' a place where the boundaries were marked with building bricks (Targum Yonathan). See Deuteronomy 1:1.

Kehalathah Or, 'Mak'helath' (Targum Yonathan; Septuagint; see Numbers 33:25. See Ketoreth HaSamim). Some say that this was the place of Korach's rebellion (Numbers 16:1; Targum Yonathan; Baal HaTurim). Since there were 18 stops between Rithmah and Kadesh, the Israelites spent on the average of one year at each stop (see Numbers 33:18,36). Therefore, this occurred approximately in 2471 (1290 b.c.e.).

Charadah 'Trembling.' This is where they trembled because of the plague (Numbers 17:12; Targum Yonathan).

Mak'heloth This is said to be a place of assembly (Targum Yonathan), possibly where the miracle of Aaron's rod occurred (Numbers 17:17, 17:24). It might have also been a place of praising God (cf. Psalms 68:27, 26:12). Some say that it was the place where a demonstration occurred (Baal HaTurim; cf. Numbers 16:3, 20:2).

Tachath (Targum). Identified with 'Kataath' (Septuagint). Some say that tachath is an improper noun, denoting the lowlands of Mak'heloth (Targum Yonathan). It is possibly the area south of Mount Karkom or Ram el-Parudi in the Sinai.

Terach Or Tarach. This was the name of Abraham's father (Genesis 11:25). Following Semitic cognates, terach denotes a kind of ibex, and this was possibly a place where such animals were found.

Mithkah 'Sweetness.' This was a place with good fresh water (Targum Yonathan). Possibly Beer el-Mayin or Beer Bedah in the Sinai.

Chashmonah See Psalms 68:32, Joshua 15:27. The Chashmonian family, which included Mattathias, may have had their origins here (cf. Middoth 1:6, Shabbath 21b). In Psalms 68:32, the Septuagint translates chashman as 'ambassador.' Chashmonah is identified with Selmonah (Septuagint).

Moseroth From the word mussar, 'chastisement.' It is thus seen as a place of chastisement or rebellion (Targum Yonathan; see Targum on 1 Samuel 20:30). In Deuteronomy 10:6 we find the Israelites going from Beney Yaakan to Moserah; and according to tradition, the Israelites returned as far as Moserah after Aaron's death. This was an act of rebellion, and a large number of Israelites were killed (Yerushalmi, Yoma 2:2, 2a; see note on Numbers 26:12). Some say that Aaron was buried in Moserah (Malbim on 20:29).

Yatvathah Yatbah in Deuteronomy 10:7, a place described as having flowing brooks. It is rendered, 'a good, calm place' (Targum Yonathan).

Avronah This is translated as a 'river crossing' or 'ford,' megisathah in Aramaic (Targum Yonathan; cf. Targum on 21:11, Jeremiah 22:20). This may be where they crossed the Aravah wadi on the way to Elath (cf. Deuteronomy 2:8).

Etzyon Gever 'Rooster's Crow!' K'rakh Tarngul in Aramaic (Targum Yonathan; Commentary ad loc.) or, 'Rooster City.' It is a town on the Gulf of Aqaba (cf. 1 Kings 22:49, 2 Chronicles 8:17), some 2 miles east of Elath (cf. Deuteronomy 2:8, 1 Kings 9:26). The Israelites therefore had headed south from Kadesh Barnea to the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Kadesh... This is where Miriam died (Numbers 20:1). They arrived there on 1 Nissan, 2484 (March 17, 1273 b.c.e.), or according to some, 10 Nissan (March 26), see note on Numbers 20:1. According to some, however, it was in this Kadesh that they remained for 19 years (Ibn Ezra on Numbers 20:1). Therefore they would have arrived here in 2468. The Israelites were now heading north again.

Divon Gad This is seen as a place of good fortune (Targum Yonathan; see Genesis 30:11). Some say that this was on the Zered Brook (see notes on Numbers 21:12), which is where the decree that the Israelites would die in the desert for 40 years came to an end (Deuteronomy 2:14). According to tradition, this was on 15 Av, 2488 (July 27, 1273 b.c.e.; Taanith 30b), two weeks after Aaron's death (Numbers 33:38).

Some identify Divon Gad with Vahev (see Numbers 21:14) and Matanah (Numbers 21:18; Adereth Eliahu). Some say that it is on Nachaliel, as stream some 11 miles north of the Arnon (Lekach Tov on Numbers 21:19).

Almon Divlathaymah Some say that this is also on the Zered Brook (Ramban). Others identify it with Matanah (Ibn Ezra), where Eshed Nachal, Beer, Matanah and Nachaliel are all in the Almon Divlathaymah area (Ibn Ezra on Numbers 21:18). Others say that it is on Nachaliel (Lekach Tov on Numbers 21:19), or the far side of the Arnon in Numbers 21:13 (Chizzkuni). It may be related to Almon in Joshua 21:18, Beth Divlathayim in Jeremiah 48:22, or Divlah in Ezekiel 6:14.

Beth HaYeshimoth Some identify it with the Wasteland (yeshimon) in Numbers 21:19 (Chizzkuni) or with Hagai (Ibn Ezra). Others say that it is the stream running down from the Wasteland (Abarbanel). It is thought to be an area some 3 miles north of the Dead Sea's northeast corner, possibly on the Abu Arabah stream, which might be Nachaliel. Some note that Nachaliel, Bamoth and Hagai might all be in this area (Chizzkuni). See next note.

Avel Shittim Shittim Plain (Targum; Saadia; Rashi). Some say that an avel is a desolate plain (Ramban on Genesis 14:6). This is Shittim mentioned in 25:1; and was the last stop before crossing the Jordan (Joshua 2:1, 3:1). It may be related to Avel Mitzraim in Genesis 50:11.

The Talmud notes that Avel Shittim is 12 miles from Beth HaYeshimoth (Eruvin 55b; Yerushalmi, Shevi'ith 6:1; Rashi). It would therefore appear that the Israelites were camped between the Ujemi Brook, just north of the Dead Sea, and the Abu Araba stream, some 5 miles to the north. The plain between the Jordan and the Aravah mountains there is approximately 12 miles wide.

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